In the years before and during World War II, Dyer acquired an intimate view of high-level command through his service on the staffs of Admiral James O. Richardson, Ernest J. King, and Richard L. Conolly. And early submariner, Dyer also served in a number of surface ships, including the battleship Arizona (BB-39), heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) (with Captain Thomas Kinkaid in command), and light cruiser Astoria (CL-90) (which Dyer commanded). As a flag officer, he commanded Cruiser Division 10; United Nations Blockade and Escort Force (Task Force 95) during the Korean War; Training Command Pacific Fleet, and the Eleventh Naval District. Dyer is the author of Naval Logistics and coauthor of Admiral James O. Richardson's memoir, On the Treadmill to Pearl Harbor.